Door hinge with means for urging toward a predetermined position



Aug. 12, 1969 R. D. MaCDoNALD DOOR HINGE WITH MEANS FOR URGING TOWARD APREDETERMINED POSITION Filed Deo. 20. 1965 I NVEN TOR. A905552?" Mmm/4mT Tom/E V5 United States Patent O 3,460,190 DOUR HINGE WITH MEANS FORURGING TOWARD A PREDETERMINED PGSITION Robert D. MacDonald, Tecumseh,Mich., assignor t Cardinal of Adrian, Inc., Adrian, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,835

lut. Cl. Ef 1/12 U.S. Cl. 16-189 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adoor hinge has compact and concealed components which urge the doortoward a closed position and beyond the closed position when the door isclosed. Censequently, there is no need for a latch of any sort which isexpensive to install and subject to misalignment. Firm closing of thedoor also is assured. The concealed components result in an attractivehinge and reduce the chance for dirt to collect in the hinge and impairthe operation.

This invention relates to a door hinge for urging a door or the liketoward a predetermined position and particularly to a door hinge capableof urging a door toward a position beyond its closed position to4eliminate the need for a latch.

With hinges of the type with which the present invention is concerned,when the door is closed, it is continuously urged beyond the closedposition and against the frame or door stop. This eliminates the needfor any latch for the door, eliminating the cost of the latch and thecost of installation. In addition, without a latch, there are not latchcomponents which otherwise are subject to misalignment during changes inthe weather, including temperature and humidity. Also, with a hinge ofthis type, the door has little tendency to bounce, even if slammed. Incontrast, with many latches, the door will not catch at all if shut toohard.

The new door hinge has a number of advantages over hinges of this typeheretofore known. The new hinge has substantially no protrudingcomponents, all components being located in the knuckle portion of thehinge. This reduces the chance for dirt to catch in the hinge and alsoconceals the operating components of the hinge, even when a door withwhich the hinge is used is completely open. The new hinge also has aunique spring action which enables substantial torque to be applied tothe door with which the hinge is used. v

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a doorhinge by means of which a door can be more effectively urged toward apredetermined position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge of theabove-discussed type having more completely concealed components.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section taken through acabinet and door attached by a hinge embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of perspective of the hinge shown in FIG. 1,in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, with the hinge in an open position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the hinge shown in FIGS.l-3;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal cross section taken along the line 5--5of FIG. 2;

3,460,190 Patented Aug. l2, 1969 hee FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of anengaging member and an enggageable means of the hinge when the door is vin a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a slightly modifiedhinge.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a cabinet 10can be typical of those found in kitchens and includes side walls 12, ahinge frame member 14, and a door stop frame member 16. The framemembers define a cabinet opening closed off by `a door 18. The door 18,as shown, is of the offset type, but any type of door can be used whenthe hinge plates are suitably modified, as is well known. A door bumperor stop 20 is attached to the frame member 16 or the door 18 to preventcontact between the two and space the door slightly from the framemember.

A hinge 22, two or more of which are employed with the door 18, includesa first portion 24 which, in this instance, is attached to the framemember 14, and a second portion 26 which, in this instance, is attachedto an edge portion of the door 18. The first hinge portion 24 includes aback plate or flange 28 having openings 30 to receive screws 32 whichare turned into the frame member 14 to afiix the first hinge portion 24thereto. Spaced knuckles 34 and 36 extend outwardly from the plate 28and have bushings 38 and 40 receiving `a hinge pin 42. A lower andsurface of the upper knuckle 34 has a pair of diametrically-opposednotches or engageable means 44 located on opposite sides of the pin 42and an upper end surface of the lower knuckle 36 has a pair ofdiametrically-opposed notches or engageable means 46 facing the notches44. In a preferred form, the notches 44 and 46 lie in a common plane ata small angle to the back plate 28, as shown by the dotted lines andarrows in FIG. 4, this angle being 5, by way of example.

The second hinge portion 26 includes a back plate or flange 48 havingopenings 50 to receive screws 52 for attaching the hinge portion 26 toan inner edge portion of the door. With the particular offset doorshown, the plate 48 is of Z-shape configuration to conform with the edgeof the door. An intermediate knuckle 54 extends from the plate 48 andhas a relatively large noncircular opening or passage 56 therethrough,which, as shown, is square in transverse cross section, and surrounds anintermediate part of the hinge pin 42. An upper engaging member 58 isslidably held in the upper end of the passage 56.

The member 58 has a square cross section similar to that of the passage56 and has a central opening 64 through which the hinge pin 42 extends,in this instance, so that the member 58 also serves as a bearing for theintermediate knuckle 54.

A lower engaging member 66 is located at the lower portion of theopening 56 and is similar but oppositely disposed to the upper engagingmember 58. The lower member 66 also has a blunt end 68 which faces theblunt end 60 of the member 58, and a tapered end 70 which is received inthe notch 46 when the hinge is in the closed position. The engagingmember 66 also is of square cross-sectional shape and has a centralopening 72 to receive a portion of the hinge pin 42 and also act as abearing member for the intermediate knuckle 54. Resilient means in theform of a coil spring 74 is located between the engaging members 58 and66 and urges them outwardly, the spring 74 being retained by the hingepin 42, in this instance.

The apex of the pointed ends 64 and 70 of the engaging members 58 and 66lie in a plane parallel to the hinge plates 48 and also parallel to theplate 28 when the hinge is in the closed position. In this manner, whilethe engaging members will be received in the engagable means or notches44 and 46, they will not extend completely to the apexes of the notchesbut will bear against the sides thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. The forceof the spring 56 urging the members 58 and 66 outwardly will producetorque tending to move the door 18 beyond the closed position and, inthis instance, tend to move the door to a position 5 beyond the closedposition Since this is the angle at which the notches 44 and 46 lierelative to the hinge plate 28.

With this arrangement, the door 18 will continually be urged toward thedoor stop member 16 against the door stops by the torque achievedthrough the spring force. Consequently, it is not necessary to employ alatch with the door since it will be held tightly closed when in theclosed position anyway. Further, if the rdoor is slammed, it will notbounce to any extent. Also, the door will tend to be held in anyposition to which it is opened due to the slight pressure or dragproduced by the engaging members 58 and 66 bearing against the adjacentend surfaces of the knuckles 34 and 36. This prevents the door fromaccidentally closing or opening if the cabinet frame is out of plumb orfrom swinging excessively if the door should be bumped or blown.

If desired, one of the engaging members 58 and 66 can be turned 90, theupper member 58 being shown turned 90 to the dotted position in FIG. 4,in which instance the upper member 58 will be received in the notches 44only when the door 18 has been swung open to approximately a 90position, and specically 85 when the notches 44 are located at an angleof 5 with respect to the hinge plate 28. Thus, the door can be preventedfrom accidentally swinging beyond the 90 position, if desired. This isparticularly advantageous if the cabinet 10 is located with the hingeframe member 14 adjacent an outwardly-extendinfy wall or at the cornerof mutually perpendicular rows of cabinets, in which case the door willbe prevented from accidentally hitting the wall or other cabinets whenopened Wide.

The specific shape of the engaging members 58 and 66 and the engageablenotches 44 and 46 can vary substantially. As shown in FIG. 7, anengageable member 76 has a rounded end 78 while an engageable means ornotch 80 is shown as square. In this instance, with the notch disposedat an angle similar to the notches 44, the rounded end 78 will contactthe opposite edges of the notch when the door is closed and againproduce a torque tending to move the door beyond the closed position. Ofcourse, the engaging members can be disposed at the slight angle to theback plate rather than the notches, if desired.

In the form of hinge shown, no components appear outside of the basiccomponents of the hinge portions themselves, namely the hinge plates andknuckles. Even when the door 18 is opened completely, no springs orengageable-means are exposed and, further, there are no protrudingelements which can collect dirt and dust more readily or be subjected topossible damage. Further, the positions of the engaging members andspring provide an effective torque-producing arrangement for the hingewhich is also compact and relatively trouble-free. The potentialvariation of the position of one of the engaging members S8 and 66 orone of the notches 44 and 46 also provides another advantage.

Numerousvariations in the above design will be apparent to those skilledin the art, and it is to be understood that such modifications can bemade without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: Y

1. A hinge to pivotally connect a door to a frame, said hinge comprisinga iirst portion and a second portion, one of said hinge portionsincluding a pair of spaced knuckles and the other of said hinge portionsincluding an intermediate knuckle located between said spaced knuckles,means pivotally connecting said spaced knuckles and said intermediateknuckle and comprising a hinge pin extending through all three of saidknuckles and v being closely rotatably held by said spaced knuckles,said intermediate knuckle having a non-circular passage extendingtherethrough larger than said hinge pin, a coil spring located in saidnon-circular passage around said hinge pin, a pair of engaging memberseach having a lcross-sectional size and shape which is slightly smallerthan the cross-sectional size and shape of said non-circular passagewith said engaging members slidable in said passage, saidengagingmembers being located at each end of said spring and oppositely disposedwith protruding opposite ends urged beyond the ends of said intermediateknuckle by said coil spring, said spaced knuckles having engageablemeans comprising notches formed in the ends of each of said spacedknuckles facing toward said intermediate knuckle and on diametricallyopposite sides of said hinge pin, said notches and engaging membersbeing positioned for said notches to receive said engaging members whensaid hinge yportions are in positions correspondin-g approximately to aclosed position of the hinge, but with said engaging members notextending fully to the apexes of said notches when the door is closed,thereby producing torque urging the door beyond the closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 571,133 1l/l896 Hoffman 16-189FOREIGN PATENTS 581,410 8/1958 Italy.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner DORIS L. TROUTMAN, Assistant ExaminerFmg?) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.ll60 190 i' Dated August 12,11969 Inventor(s) Robert D. MacDonald It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Pate nt are hereby corrected as shown below:

r- 4InA Column l, line 35, "not" should read no 1 line 65, "of".l (firstoccurrence) should read 1n In Column 2, line 2, correct the -spelling of"engageab1e"; line 27?' fend" should read end SIGNED Ang-u- SEALED0212231@ (SEAL) Auen:

Mmmm 31' WILLIAM somma. m. nesting Officer commissioner of Patents

